The shape of things : Male body image amongst South African University Students

Abstract:

This research explored trends in male body image amongst South African men aged 18 to
25 years. A questionnaire consisting of a demographic section, the Body Image Test, the
Behaviours Checklist and the Eating Disorders Inventory was administered to 50 male
students from the University of the Witwatersrand. Trends in body dissatisfaction, body
enhancing behaviour and eating disorder symptoms were examined. Correlation analyses
were used to infer relationships between these three variables.
The results showed that the sample group on average view themselves as overly muscular
and have a body image ideal that is less muscular than their perceived body image. This
trend is contrary to trends reported in international studies and is thought to represent the
cultural effects of using a South African population that is diverse in its composition as
compared to an American or European samples that are more homogenous in nature. The
results also showed that there were differences in body image trends between different
racial groupings, although the results did indicate that across the racial groupings there
was a similar societal body image ideal that represents a global trend towards a lean,
muscular male body image. The results showed that the sample did not engage in body
enhancing behaviours that are considered excessive or indicative of body image
dissatisfaction. This was also reflected by the results on the Eating Disorders Inventory
that showed considerably lower scores on the symptom scales when compared to a
clinical eating disordered population and a non-clinical female comparison group. The
results also showed that the sample had lower scores on the behavioural symptom scales
yet higher scores on the attitudinal symptom scales. This indicates that the sample did not
display any significant eating disorder behaviours yet did display personality traits that
are correlated to eating disordered behaviour.
There was no correlation between body dissatisfaction and body enhancing behaviour.
There was a positive correlation between body dissatisfaction and the symptom scale of
interpersonal distrust. A positive correlation also occurred between body enhancing
behaviour and the symptom scales for perfection and drive for thinness. Limitations of
the study and recommendations for future research are discussed.